Editorial: Expert's praise for arts focus here is gratifying

It isn't often that a prominent guest to Kalamazoo makes a presentation and then returns home to write publicly about the experience -- and, frankly, rave about our community.

We're not surprised by the compliment, and it is most assuredly appreciated.

But what's even more interesting about this subsequent commentary from a distinguished visitor is the view gained of our community. In effect, it's a rare opportunity to see ourselves through someone else's eyes.

Michael Kaiser, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, D.C., visited Kalamazoo on July 23 to give a presentation titled, "Thriving through the Arts." He encouraged area arts organizations and patrons to be creative, look to the future and not compromise programming.

Kaiser's visit here, courtesy of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, was part of a national tour he created called, "Arts in Crisis: a Kennedy Center Initiative." He visited 70 cities in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia offering free arts-management consulting to nonprofit performing-arts organizations.

The extent of his travels provides some idea of just how remarkable was the fact that he singled out the Kalamazoo community in comments on The Huffington Post (http://tinyurl.com/KaiserVisit).

"Like other cities in Michigan, Kalamazoo has been hard hit by the recession and many arts organizations there are struggling," Kaiser wrote in his column titled, "My Visit to Kalamazoo."

He mentioned that the ballroom at the Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites was filled to capacity for his presentation.

He characterized the caliber of questions and the issues raised by the audience as pertinent, detailed and intelligent.

"In general, there was great concern that the fabric of the arts in Kalamazoo not be destroyed by the current crisis," Kaiser wrote.

"But the overwhelming feeling from every person in the room was that the arts were not dispensable in this environment. The feeling from top to bottom was that the arts are central to the healthy ecology of the city."

"It was a truly inspirational meeting," he added. "Here, in the middle of America, in a small city, in the state most battered by the recession, was an entire community saying that the arts matter, that the health of their community depended in great measure on the health of their arts programming.

"They were determined to work together -- the arts community, the business community, the political community and the educational community -- to maintain the vitality of the arts in their city."

Clearly, Kaiser's stop in Kalamazoo left a lasting impression. It also affirms our priorities as a community.

If we truly value these amenities, we will find new and innovative ways to protect and preserve the arts and culture that have been nurtured here for many years. They are, indeed, an important part of the fabric of this community.

And, in these trying times, it sure is heartening to hear a national expert second that motion.